Vehicle placarding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Placarding systems for vehicle sides and roll-up vehicle doors include imprinted plates hinged to a base, which plates may be selectably oriented and clipped to the base so that the exposed faces of the plates define a diamond-shaped area bearing a single inscription.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the selective placarding of vehicles. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to vehicle placarding apparatuswhich provides for convenient changes of the indication of cargocontents.

Motor and rail vehicles have long been placarded to indicate the natureor contents of cargo carried by the vehicle. Known placarding meansinclude imprinted, adhesive backed cards pasted to the vehicle andimprinted plates mechanically attached to the vehicle by bolts, rivetsor the like. These placarding means have a disadvantage in that theplacarding cannot be rapidly and economically changed to reflect theoften frequent changes in the vehicle cargo.

Another known placarding system provides an elongated rectangularinscription area formed by a plurality of generally rectangular plateswith their transverse edges hinged at a bisector of the elongatedrectangle so that the plates may be turned like the pages of a book tochange the placarded inscription. Multiple spring clips mounted on arigid base member are located at cutaway corners of both transverseedges of the elongated rectangle to selectively maintain the plates inposition against the rigid base member. A raised ledge is integral withthe base member along the edges thereof parallel to the elongaterectangle edges, but the transverse edges of the base member are flat.

Recently, the Department of Transportation has promulgated newrequirements for the placarding of vehicles carrying hazardous materialsin commerce. Those requirements, set out in Vol. 41, No. 74 of theFederal Register, Apr. 15, 1976, prescribe that a diamond-shaped placardof specified dimensions be affixed to the front, rear and sides ofvehicles carrying hazardous materials.

It would be desirable to provide a placarding system that would meetthose requirements while providing for changes of the placardinscription.

The new requirements present particular difficulty with respect to theplacarding of vehicles having roll-up doors, which may include theentire rear vertical surface of the vehicle available for placarding.The difficulty results because the diagonal length of the diamond-shapedplacard now required in most cases exceeds the height of the hingedrectangular sections which normally comprise the roll-up doors. Hence,known rigid, planar placards, reconfigured in a diamond-shape, cannot beused on roll-up doors, since they interfere with the operation of thedoor. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a diamond-shapedplacarding apparatus suitable for use with roll-up vehicle doors.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is a general object of the present invention to provide novel vehicleplacarding systems having diamond-shaped placards presentingconveniently changeable displays of inscriptions.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide such anovel vehicle placarding system where hinged placard leaves areprotected by framing on all sides to militate against wind and otherdamage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a systemwherein turning of the placard leaves is facilitated by particularlocation of the hinges, retention clips and finger access zones relativeto the side framing.

It is an independent object of the present invention to provide a novelvehicle placarding system having diamond-shaped placards presentingconveniently changeable displays of inscriptions, which system issuitable for use with roll-up vehicle doors.

These and other objects may be achieved through preferred embodiments ofthe present invention.

A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is an apparatusfor placarding a vehicle with a plurality of selectively exposableinscriptions on diamond-shaped backgrounds. The apparatus includes abase member, a plurality of rectangular plates, mounting means for theplates and means for selectively clipping the plates to the base member.The base member itself comprises an equilateral, diamond-shaped centralportion and a framing section raised from the square central portion,and lying along essentially the entire perimeter of the central portion.The base member is adapted to be attached to the vehicle so that theframing member projects outwardly from the vehicle and from the centralportion, and so that diagonally opposite vertices of the square centralportion lie on a vertical axis. The plurality of rectangular plates havelongitudinal edges of approximately the same length as a side of thecentral portion and have transverse edges of about half the length of aside of the central portion. The mounting means is operable to pivotallyattach each of the rectangular plates to the base member so that theplates are pivotable about a common axis approximately parallel to alongitudinal edge of each plate, which axis approximately bisects oneset of parallel sides of the framing section. Manually operable clipmeans are mounted on the other set of parallel sides of the framingsection for selectively retaining the plates in parallel contact withthe central portion. The rectangular plates are located and bear indiciaso that surfaces of two of the plates, facing outwardly simultaneously,are adapted to collectively define a diamond-shaped area displaying aninscription, split along the common pivoting axis and framed by theframing member.

Advantageously, the pivoting means may comprise a pair of U-shapedmembers with the legs thereof attached to the central portion of thebase member, which U-shaped members pass through apertures in each ofthe plurality of rectangular plates to loosely bind a longitudinal edgeof each plate to the base member. The clipping means may comprise twospring clips on the framing member, one on each side of the commonpivoting axis. Cutouts may be formed in the framing member about thevertices of the square central portion to provide access for selectionand manual grasping of the rectangular plates. Apertures may be formedin the base member at the cutouts, the apertures being adapted toreceive means for affixing the base member to the vehicle.

A second embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus forproviding changeable placarding for a roll-up vehicle door formed of aplurality of articulated, rigid rectangular sections, consecutivelyhinged along horizontal axes. The apparatus may comprise two separatebase members, two groups of generally triangular plates, means forpivotally attaching the plates to the bases, and means for selectivelyclipping the plates to the bases. A first base member is adapted to beattached to a first rectangular door section, and a second base memberis adapted to be attached to a second rectangular door section adjacentthe first rectangular door section.

A first plurality of generally congruent, right triangular plates isprovided with means for pivotally attaching each of the first pluralityof plates to the first base member, so that the plates are pivotableabout a common axis approximately parallel with parallel congruent edgesof each of the plates. A second plurality of generally congruent, righttriangular plates is provided with means for pivotally attaching each ofthe second plurality of plates to the second base member, so that thoseplates are pivotable about a common axis approximately parallel withparallel congruent edges of the plates. Selectively operable means onsaid first and second base members are provided for clipping thetriangular plates to their respective base members to retain the platesin a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the door sections towhich the respective base members are attached.

The triangular plates bear indicia and are located such that surfaces offour triangular plates, facing outwardly simultaneously, are adapted todefine a diamond-shaped area bearing a single inscription, split atabout the horizontal axis along which the first and second door sectionsare hinged and split at the common pivoting axes.

Advantageously, the first pivoting means of the above-describedplacarding apparatus may comprise at least one U-shaped member with thelegs thereof attached to said first base member, which U-shaped memberpasses through apertures in each of said first plurality of triangularplates. Likewise, the second pivoting means may comprise at least oneU-shaped member with the legs thereof attached to said second basemember. The clipping means may comprise a plurality of spring clips forengaging each of the four simultaneously outward facing triangularplates along a perpendicular bisector of the hypotenuse of eachtriangular plate. Each triangular plate may be formed with a tab meansprotruding from the hypotenuse thereof to facilitate identification andmanual selection of the plate.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the subsequent detailed description of preferred formsthereof, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a truck having a rear roll-up door andplacarded with placarding apparatus according to two embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a placarding apparatus according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a second embodiment of the placardingapparatus of the present invention, shown mounted on a portion of aroll-up vehicle door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 with a rear roll-up door 12 isshown bearing placarding systems according to two embodiments of thepresent invention. To comply with current federal regulation, a motorvehicle carrying hazardous materials must be placarded on its front,sides and rear. Accordingly, the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 may beplacarded with a first embodiment 16 of the present invention on itsfront (not shown) and its lateral sides. The roll-up door may beplacarded with a second embodiment 18 of the present invention.

The vehicle shown in FIG. 1 is placarded on its lateral side 14 with theplacarding apparatus 16 of the first embodiment having a one-piecediamond-shaped base. The placarding apparatus 16 on the side of thevehicle includes a raised perimetric framing section 46, integral withthe base, to protect plates 22 bearing the appropriate inscription fromscraping impact or other damage.

The roll-up door 12 of the vehicle is placarded with a second embodiment18 of the present invention. As will be appreciated, conventionalroll-up doors comprise a series of rectangular sections 24, each hingedalong at least one horizontal edge (e.g., edges 26) to an adjacentrectangular section. When the door is opened, upper sections of the doorpivot in a horizontal direction with respect to adjacent lower sectionsof the door, so that the upper portion of the door may be located in astorage position directly under the roof or upper horizontal plane ofthe vehicle.

The placarding apparatus of the present invention, intended primarilyfor use with such a roll-up door (but, of course, usable at vehiclesides if desired), is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. As illustratedthere and in FIG. 1, the apparatus 18 comprises first and secondtriangular base members 28 and 30. The height of each of those basemembers is less than the height of the rectangular door sections 24 towhich the members are attached. At least four triangular plates 32,bearing a portion of an inscription, may be attached to the basemembers. In this connection, hinges are provided as will be described ingreater detail in connection with FIG. 4. Surfaces of the plates 32 maybe selectively exposed to display the desired inscription.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the placarding apparatus 16 depicted onthe side of the vehicle 10 of FIG. 1 may be more fully appreciated. Thisplacarding apparatus 16 comprises a base member 40 and a plurality ofimprinted rectangular plates 42. The base member 40 is formed with adiamond-shaped central portion 44 in which the rectangular plates 42 aredisplayed. A raised frame section 46 is disposed about essentially theentire perimeter of the diamond-shaped portion. Advantageously, thecentral portion 44 has equal sides as shown.

The rectangular plates 42 are attached to the base member by hinges 48located along a line bisecting two opposite sides of the frame section46. These hinges are U-shaped members attached to the central portion 44of the base member and pass through apertures 50 along adjacent edges ofthe rectangular plates. Spring clips 52, attached to the raisedperimeter 46 of the base plate, selectively retain the rectangularplates against the central portion 44 in the base member 40. Cutoutzones 54 in the perimeter of the base plate may be provided at thecorners to permit easy access to vertices of the rectangular plates 42so as to facilitate grasping of the edges of the rectangular plates withthe fingers in order to select the plates bearing the desiredinscription. Apertures 55 may be formed in the base member at thecutouts. The apertures 55 are adapted to receive suitable fasteningmeans for affixing the base member to the vehicle. Other such aperturescan be provided at other locations on the central portion 44 of the basemember if desired.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the raised frame section 46 of the base member40 is generally U-shaped in cross section. In this connection, the framesection comprises an upstanding wall 64 projecting upwardly from thediamond-shaped, planar central portion 44 of the base member 40, a framewall 66 offset from the plane of the central portion 44, and a dependingskirt 68.

The spring clips 52 are attached to the offset frame wall 66 by rivets70 or the like. The illustrated spring clips 52 comprise a base plate 72having spring legs 74 that capture a pivot arm 76 of a latch 78. Thelatch includes a projection 80 at its leading end, which projection fitsthrough apertures 82 in the plates 42 to hold the plates 42 in positionagainst the central portion 44 of the base. For convenience, in FIG. 3one spring clip 52 is shown in an engaged condition, while the other isshown disengaged. If desired, other forms of retention means may beemployed to maintain the plates 42 in their selcted display positionafter turning the plates about the hinges 48. Moreover, the centralportion 44 of the base may be cut out, as indicated at 82, to providetubes 84 which may be upturned to cooperate with locating apertures 86in the plates 42.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS.2 and 3 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the exposed faces ofthe outermost rectangular plates 42 collectively define a diamond-shapedarea bearing a single inscription. When it is desired to change theexposed inscription as, for example, when the cargo of the vehicle hasbeen changed, the change may be effected in the following way. Springclips 52 may be oriented to release the rectangular plates 42. Thevertex of one of the rectangular plates may be manually grasped with thefingers at one of the cutouts 54. One or a number of the rectangularplates may be turned about the axis defined by the hinges 48 like pagesof a book. As each rectangular plate is pivoted 180 degrees about theaxis defined by the hinges, the exposed faces of the outermostrectangular plates will define a diamond-shaped area bearing a differentsingle inscription. When the desired inscription is selectively exposed,the spring clips 52 may be reoriented to engage the rectangular plates.

With reference now to FIG. 4, the apparatus 18, adapted for use on aroll-up door, will be appreciated. The previously mentioned first andsecond triangular shaped base members are adapted for attachment in anysuitable manner to adjacent rectangular sections 24 of the roll-up door,with edges 98 of the triangular base members disposed substantiallyadjacent to one another along the hinged edges 26 of the first andsecond rectangular door sections.

A first plurality of congruent right triangular plates 32 is attached tothe first base 28 by means of hinges 104 to permit the pivoting of thetriangular plates about an axis 105 defined by those hinges 104.Similarly, a second plurality of congruent right triangular plates 32 isattached to the second base member 30 by means of hinges 108 that definea pivoting axis 107 parallel to congruent leg edges 109 of thetriangular plates. The base members 28 and 30 are located on therectangular sections of the roll-up door 12 so that the exposed faces ofthe outermost triangular plates collectively define a square,diamond-shaped area bearing an inscription. It will be clear that theedges of the diamond-shaped area are the hypotenuses of the triangularplates, and that the diamond-shaped area is quartered by the horizontalhinge axis of the articulated door sections 24 and the pivoting axes105, 107 of the triangular plates.

Spring clips 110 may be attached to the base members along the perimeterof the diamond-shaped area collectively defined by the triangular platesto selectively maintain the triangular plates in contact with the basemembers to prevent the pivoting of the plates about the axes 105 and107. These spring clips 110 may be substantially identical to thosedescribed in connection with FIG. 3. Tab members 112 may be provided onthe hypotenuse of each of the triangular plates to facilitate manualselection and pivoting of the plates to expose the desired inscription.Raised locating bosses 114 cooperable with plate apertures 116 may beformed in the base members to help in correct location of the plates.

A change in the exposed indicia of the second embodiment of the presentinvention may be effected in the following way. The spring clips 110 maybe oriented to release the plates 32. The tabs 112 on the plates may begrasped to pivot and thereby selectively expose the appropriate surfacesof the plates. The tabs may be appropriately marked to indicate that theexposed surfaces of the plates are properly grouped to define a completeand correct inscription. When the desired inscription is exposed, thespring clips 110 may be reoriented to again engage the plates 102 and106.

Although the invention has been described with reference to preferredforms thereof, it will be appreciated that additions, modifications,substitutions and deletions may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for placarding a vehicle with aplurality of selectively exposable inscriptions on diamond-shapedbackgrounds comprising:a base member comprising an equilateral,diamond-shaped central portion and a framing section raised from thesquare central portion and lying along substantially the entireperimeter of the central portion of the base member, said base memberbeing attachable to the vehicle so that the framing section extendsoutwardly from the vehicle and from the central portion, and so thatdiagonally opposite vertices of the central portion lie on a verticalaxis; a plurality of rectangular plates having longitudinal edges ofapproximately the same length as a side of the central portion andhaving transverse edges of approximately half the length of the centralportion; means for pivotally attaching each of the rectangular plates tothe base member so that the plates are pivotable about a common axisapproximately parallel to a longitudinal edge of each plate, which axisapproximately bisects two parallel sides of said framing section;manually operable means mounted on the other two sides of said framingsection for clipping the rectangular plates to the base member toselectively retain the plates in parallel contact with the centralportion; said plates being located and having indicia so that thesurfaces of any two of the plates facing outwardly simultaneouslycollectively define a diamond-shaped area displaying an inscription,split along the common pivoting axis and framed by the framing section;and, said framing section being raised from the central portion asufficient amount so that the plurality rectangular plates lay in therecess formed by said framing section and are thereby protected frombeing moved and damaged by stationary projections along the path of thevehicle which would otherwise catch edges of the rectangular plates asthe vehicle is driven by the stationary projections cutouts are formedin the framing section about the vertices of the central portion toprovide access for selection and manual grasping of the rectangularplates; and, said framing section comprises: wall portions projectingperpendicularly to the central portion and located about the perimeterof the central portions; a frame wall portion attached to the wallportion and disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the centralportion; and a frame skirt portion depending from said frame.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the manually operable clipping meanscomprises a single spring clip on the first of the other two sides ofsaid framing section and a single spring clip on the second of the othertwo sides of said framing section; and,apertures are formed in saidcutouts to facilitate attachment of the base member to the vehicle.